About

The aim of this review is to focus on the politics in the adaptation of the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker to the film The Color Purple directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985. In doing so, this review shall firstly discuss the significance of the period in which the film was made. Secondly, it shall highlight the politics behind the movie being a Hollywood production directed by Steven Spielberg. Thirdly, this review shall discuss the manner in which the novel has been interpreted in the movie primarily through the absence of the theme of nationalism. Furthermore, the portrayal of the character of Mister and Shugs in the movie shall also be discussed in relation to the novel in order to identify the significance of these editorial decisions. Finally, this review shall discuss the images of the two sisters clapping together in contributing greatly to the visual effect of the film.

Significantly, the movie The Color Purple was released in a time period where there was an outburst of various forms of entertainment that showcased the talent of African American artists and the life style of affluent African Americans on American Television channels. The popular sitcom The Cosby Show starring Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād was firstly aired in 1984. This program was one of the first sitcoms that dealt with themes such as the Civil Rights Movement, African-American culture and African culture. These themes were represented by artists and musicians such as Jacob Lawrence, Miles Davis, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Miriam Makeba. Furthermore, during the period of 1985 two other significant sit coms consisting primarily of an African American cast were also firstly aired which focused on the lifestyle of African Americans. The entertainment program 227 was high-rated show set in a predominately Black neighborhood. Secondly, the television show Amen was also set in and around a Philadelphia-based black church. Interestingly, it was during this period that the first syndicated talk show hosted by an African American, Oprah Winfrey, was aired. Moreover, the song ‘We are the world’ was recorded by the Super group of USA for Africa in 1985. This song is also included as a part of showcasing African American talent due to two distinct reasons. Firstly, it was written by African American artists Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie while it was produced by Quincy Jones, who also produces the Music for the movie The Color Purple. Secondly, the proceeds collected from the sales of this record were utilized to assist those who were affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Hence I felt that this is rather interesting as it is an attempt made predominantly by the African Americans to give back to the nation of their ancestors. In that sense, the period in which the movie was released is rather significant as it seems to be a period in which many African American artists were showcasing their talents. Therefore, I believe that Steven Spielberg succumbed to this trend of showcasing African American talent and their lifestyles by producing a movie that involves an African American cast that engages with the toils average African Americans faced during the 1930’s.

The Hollywood production of The Color Purple is rather interesting to analyze as it does not depict every character and every relationship that is mentioned in the novel as Alice Walker intended it to be. For example Alice Walker clearly suggests that Celie and Shug share a sexual relationship that is very intimate and passionate through lines such as ‘she say, I love you, Miss Celie. And then she haul off and kiss me on the mouth…I kiss her back…us kiss and kiss till us hardly kiss no more. Then us touch each other’ (pg.103). However, in the movie this relationship is not depicted as sexually intense as in the novel. In fact even the song Shug dedicates to Celie repeats the word ‘sister’ so much so that it undervalues the sexual relationship they share. I believe that Spielberg has not depicted this relationship shared by Celie and Shug as not very sexual as presented by Walker although there is one scene in the movie where Celie and Shug kiss each other in the lip cheek and forehead.I believe that this is primarily due to the fact that homosexuality was seen as very subversive and controversial to the audience of Hollywood production that mostly conform to mainstream culture. However, one can interpret this scene in the movie where Celie and Shug kiss as one of ‘connotative homosexuality’. Benshoff and Griffin state that connotative homosexuality means implying or suggesting homosexuality in a very subtle way rather than stating it out right. They further mention that connotative homosexuality became the usual way in which classical Hollywood cinema depicts gays and lesbians as Hollywood movies were expected to conform to the norms of society. According to the website Film Reference, Gay and lesbian concerns and characters often found varied representations outside the Hollywood industry, in foreign, experimental, and documentary filmmaking
Thus it is evident that Spielberg has also used this technique in order to imply that Celie and Shug shared a lesbian relationship. Consequently, this is done in order refrain from making an obvious statement on their tendencies of homosexuality which may result is the censorship of the movie due its subversiveness. Therefore, I believe that the homosexual relationship has been underscored greatly in the movie as opposed to the novel due to the nature of the movie being a Hollywood production.

It is also interesting to note that a Jewish white male has taken the initiative to direct a movie that is based on a novel written by an African American feminist who deals with their bitter experiences. I personally feel that the way in which Spielberg presented the character of Shug in the movie did not do justice to the feminist author’s portrayal of this ‘wild woman’. As a result I agree with Featherstone’s (1985) comment that Hollywood is notoriously insensitive to the concerns of women and people of color. This is because in the novel Shug is presented as a very headstrong, independent and a ‘wild woman’ who is agentive. The fact that she decides to sing and dance to the public which was considered a daring venture for a lady clearly depicts her independent nature. However, in the movie she is depicted as one who constantly attempts to seek forgiveness from her farther for disappointing him with her conduct. The fact that she says ‘see daddy, sinners have souls too’ in the scene where she leads her audience to the church clearly indicates her loss of pride and value for her rebellious conduct. Dix (1985) also mentions that ‘To have this woman come back to the church and into the embrace of her father, the preacher who had done sermons about her lifestyle as sin incarnate, definitely undercuts the rebel image of Shug and undercuts the movie´s overall strong stand against patriarchy.” Therefore, I feel that Spielberg through the portrayal of Shrug as vulnerable is being patriarchal by depicting Shrug as susceptible to men. Hence the weaker portrayal of Shug in the movie can be interpreted as the subtle way in which the male director of the movie undermines the feminist agenda that was placed in Walker’s novel.

Significantly, Spielberg’s movie does not discuss the themes of nationalism that was raised in Waker’s novel. The author in the novel attempts to highlight the way in which the African Americans did not feel a part of the nation through two significant instances. Firstly, it is brought out effectively through the lines ‘White people busy celebrating they independence from England July 4th, say Harpo, so most black folks don’t have to work. Us spend day celebrating each other’ (pg.261). Secondly, its brought out through the lines ‘The way you know who discover America, Nettie say, is think bout cucumbers’. I believe Walker through these instances effectively show the way in which the African Americans do not feel a part of America due to the way in which they were exploited as a result of the institution of slavery by Americans. The fact that this theme is absent in Spielberg’s Hollywood production can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, it shows that the director does not want to create a form of unease for the American audience by provoking them to feel guilty for their ancestor’s treatment towards the African Americans. Secondly, it also shows the way in which the director himself is not willing to take responsibility as a white American for creating this form of unpatriotic nature within the African Americans. Therefore, I believe that Spielberg’s attempt in eliminating this unpatriotic nature within the characters in the movie clearly shows that he does not want to address this issue which may result in a form of controversy.

Furthermore, the fact that this movie does not depict the gradual development of Mister’s character is rather significant. In the novel Mister is portrayed positively towards the end although he is represented disapprovingly through his treatment towards Celie at the beginning. The lines ‘After all the evil he done I know why I don’t hate him…Plus look like he appreciate some of the things God was playful enough to make. I mean when you talk to him now he really listen…it feel like a new experience’ (pg.236). These lines clearly indicate that towards the end Mister did transform to a sensible and approachable person even to Celie to whom he was the most vindictive and vengeful to. Therefore, it can be concluded that Walker did not degrade African American men entirely for their inconsiderate nature towards their women through her transformation of the her male protagonist. However, the fact that Spielberg does not highlight this transformation on the character of Mister can be due to his intention of presenting the male characters as wicked and unsophisticated. I personally feel that Spielberg made a conscious choice to not highlight the transformation in Mister’s character in order to place blame on the African American male. This I believe is done in order to make sure that the audience identifies the African American male as the oppressor rather than the white man who instigated the institution of slavery. Furthermore, the fact that the director eliminates the instance where Sophia rebukes the Anglo Americans by saying ‘Some colored people so scared of whitefolks they claim to love the cotton gin’ (pg.240) clearly shows that the director is placing the African American male as the cause for the deterioration of the lives of these women.

The image of Celie and Nettie clapping hands to the song ‘You and me us never part’ at the beginning and in the middle of the movie adds greatly to the visual effect of the film. This is because this image firstly, portrayed right at the beginning. This clearly enlightens the audience about the vey close relationship the sisters’ share. The fact that they engage in this activity even when Nettie is forced to leave the house it saddens the audience greatly as it effectively highlights the pain and trauma that the sisters go through due to their partition. Furthermore, I believe that this image functions for a strategic purpose of exposing the conclusion of the movie by indicating that ‘aint no ocean ain’t no sea’ can part them from each other. These words have a literal meaning due to that fact that Nettie and Celie managed to get together although they were in different countries at a certain point in time. Moreover, the image of the two sisters clapping their hands to the song plays a significant role in highlighting the emphasis placed on the relationship of sisterhood. Although Spielberg does not emphasize the sexual and intimate relationship shared between Shug and Celie due to its controversial nature within mainstream Hollywood culture, he does not underscore the relationship of the sisters as this relationship is accepted within the societal norms of society. Therefore, I believe that Spielberg places emphasis to this image also because he promotes relationships that are accepted within social conventions. In that sense, this image plays a significant role on many levels as highlighted above.

In conclusion, it is evident that Spielberg’s Hollywood production The Color Purple does not entirely conform to the depictions of characters and relationships as Walker intended them to be. In that sense it is very interesting to analyze this movie due to two reasons. Firstly, because it provides an opportunity to the audience to evaluate the way in which a narrative from the perspective of a race that was previously enslaved is affected when it is represented through a medium such as Hollywood. Secondly, because it provides an opportunity to evaluate the way in which a white male director presents the feminist agenda of an African American female. This was clearly brought out in the review through the discussion of the character portrayal of Mister, Shug and the relationship shared between Celie and Shug. Hence I believe that Spielberg’s rendition of ‘The Color Purple’ is very significant as it clearly depicts the way in he promotes societal norms that are pertinent to the American society.

The aim of this post is to highlight the way in which Sri Lankan artists Anoma Wijewardena and Chandragupta Thenuwara responded to the ethnic war through their works of art within the theoretical frameworks of the alternative narrative, memory, nationalism and militarization. In doing so, this research paper shall also analyze two other factors. Firstly, it shall identify whether the response of the artists created an alternative narrative which differed from the ‘state narrative’. Moreover, it shall also attempt to identify the limitations these artists faced in expressing their voice and perspectives in a nation where narratives that do not support the interest of the state are censored. Secondly, this research paper shall highlight the attempts made by these artists in light of a social activist who has a larger social agenda.

The rationale for choosing the artists Anoma Wijewardena and Chandragupta Thenuwara among many in the art circles are due to the following reasons. Firstly, due to the fact that their works of art have gained immense recognition in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for their creativity and style. Whilst Wijewardena has her paintings exhibited in the galleries of London, Brisbane, Singapore Dubai, V&A Museum and the House of Commons (Anoma Wijewardena’s Official Website, 2010), Thenuwara’s works have been included in the collections of the Queensland Arts Gallery, Fukouka Asian Art Museum, John Moore’s University of Art Collection and the Fine Art’s Museum in Udmurtia (Culturebase.net website, 2010). Secondly, they have both addressed the issue of the ethnic war in their pieces of art extensively and effectively. For example Wijewardena dedicated her work that represent her response to war in an exhibition named ‘Quest’ which took place at the National Art Gallery in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Thenuwara curated the exhibition named ‘Visual Responses During the War’ at the Lionel Wendt Gallery and the Harold Pieris Gallery in 2010.

Finally, and most significantly, I chose Wijewardena and Thenuwara due to the fact that their works of art are different from each other. For example Wijewardena’s work embraces the medium of digital art and video installation which incorporates elements of images, colors, words, sounds and movement. Moreover, her photographs are deconstructed, layered, and manipulated which range from stark reality to the surrealism (Wijewardena’s Official Website, 2010). However, Thenuwara provides alternative art education that functions on an ideological position different from the conventional. For example, his concept of ‘Barrelism’ that is represented through actual barrels is very significant as it incorporates an actual artifact as a work of art. Hence these variations in terms of Wijewardena’s and Thenuwara’s approach in responding to the ethnic war will be an interesting study in order to understand the various ways art allows one to respond to a social issue such as war.

Anoma Wijewardena’s Art

I have selected two of her works of art that was exhibited at ‘Quest’ titled ‘Check point by Hindu temple, Colombo’ and ‘Camplife’ (Wijewardena’s Official Website, 2010) for the purpose of analyzing Wijewardena’s response to the ethnic war. I chose the above pieces from this exhibition as it depicts the struggles of ordinary Sri Lankans in the face of both natural and man-made disasters (Wijewardena’s Official Website, 2010). Furthermore, these works of art are also significant as they have been layered, fused, blurred, and sharpened thereby revealing Wijewardena’s mark as a new media conceptual artist.

‘Check point by Hindu temple, Colombo’ is an interesting piece that is layered with multiple meanings. It is a painting that has a checkpoint on the pavement of the road adjoining the wall of a Hindu Temple. It is only possible to see the top of the Hindu Temple as the wall covers the depiction of the rest of the building. Furthermore, this work of art also shows a motorist travelling on the road passing the check point.

At first glance, this work of art seems to be very colorful as it includes many bright colors. For example the wall is in bright red and white, the temples are in silver and gold and the check point is in bright green. Hence initially the use of color in this painting for me presented a rather sensational and a rather delightful experience. However, if one looks closely it is evident that it is the opposite of my initial sensation that is presented. This is clearly brought out through the representation of gloom and dullness in the sky. The fact that the sky, which traditionally symbolizes hope is in grey. Consequently, a color that is commonly used to depict sadness, uncertainty and anguish. Henceforth, I believe that Wijewardena is stimulating her audience to think deeper about the contradictions that are presented in this work of art through the use of colors.

Moreover, I feel that the artist is making a very political statement through the depiction of the Hindu temple and the checkpoint together. Firstly, it highlights the way in which the state, which is represented through the presence of the checkpoint, is disgracing the religion that has the second largest followers in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the state’s the primary justification for implementing check points is to prevent terrorists from causing harm to the civilians and those who hold important positions in the state. The fact that this checkpoint is situated right next to the Hindu Temple reveals two interesting factors. Firstly, it clearly shows the way in which the state posits those who belong to this religious group as a threat to the sovereignty of the nation. Secondly, it invariably posits this religion as one that symbolizes terrorism in Sri Lanka. In fact, Anderson (1983) defines a nation as an imagined political community, which is both inherently limited and sovereign and also mentions that the nation, regardless of the actual inequality and exploitation that may prevail, upholds a deep horizontal comradeship. Moreover, Smith (2001) mentions that a nation is an ideological movement for attaining and maintaining autonomy, unity, and identity for a population which some of its members deem to constitute an actual or potential nation. According to the above definitions of a nation, it is clearly evident that the incorporation of a checkpoint adjoining the Hindu temple clearly disrupts the concept of a nation as one ethnicity/religion is posited as harmful.

Henceforth, I believe that Wijewardena is responding to war by highlighting the existence of an ‘Ethnic Nationalism’ as opposed to ‘Civic Nationalism’ in the war trodden context of Sri Lanka. Harris (2009) mentions that ‘Ethnic Nationalism is collectivist, illiberal and contradictory to democratic citizenship because it defines its group as a community that belongs to a particular ethnicity’. I believe that Wijewardena is portraying the existence of ‘Ethnic Nationalism’ as opposed to ‘Civic Nationalism’ which is antithetical in character, inclined towards an inclusive definition of the nation as a community of equal citizens (Harris, 2009). I believe that the artist is promoting the concept of ‘Civic Nationalism’ due to its benign characteristic and its complementary nature to ‘democracy’ through this work of art. Therefore, I feel that Wijewardena is criticizing the form of nationalism that is promoted by the state through the juxtaposition of the Hindu Temple and the checkpoint effectively. Thus, it is evident that Wijewardena’s response to the war is not only emotional, but is also political in nature.

Moreover, De Mel (2007) mentions that a ‘militarized society is one where the military has taken ascendency over civilian institutions and is predominantly and visibly relied upon to police and regulate civilian movement. Furthermore, she also states that “checkpoints inhabit ordinary, daily routines in a manner that naturalizes and masks our own embeddedness within it’. I believe that the above notions resonate with the intention of Wijewardena in depicting a checkpoint in this work of art. I feel that Wijewardena is also highlighting the process of surveillance one goes through even in their daily routines through the inculcation of a checkpoint. Interestingly, Hyndman and de Alwis (2004) mentions that “Nowhere has checkpoint culture become more developed than in Sri Lanka”. Therefore, it is evident that Wijewardena is implicitly criticizing the militarized nature of Sri Lanka because it threatens the right to ‘freedom of movement’.

Significantly, the process of surveillance is so entrenched that it is symbolized through the red and white stripes in the wall that remind us of sarongs, which is the most comfortable garment for a physically disabled person. This technique used by the artist clearly resonates with the situation of civilians, especially ones who belong to the Tamil ethnicity. Even this aspect is brought out clearly through the depiction of the stripes all over the Hindu Temple wall whilst only a very few extending to the road. Additionally, Wijewardena creatively highlights the way in which the persons on the motor bike are not subject to a serious form of disability in comparison to those who belong to the Tamil ethnicity through the blurring effect of their faces. I feel that Wijewardena shows the Tamil community as more deprived than the Sinhalese community because they cannot travel as and when they please due to the strict process of registering that is required only for them. Hence it is evident that the artist is making a very political statement against the practices and approaches of the state in seeking a resolution to the ethnic war through unequal treatment.

Wijewardena’s ‘Camplife’ is also another significant piece to analyze in order to understand her response to the ethnic war. This work of art situates a female child in the midst of a camp that is abundant with household items including a mat, gunny bags, utensils, a basket and other items. Interestingly, everything except for the face of the child is blurred. This work of art is definitely a product of new media as the photograph has been manipulated, sharpened and layered to provide a surreal effect.

Firstly, it is rather interesting that Wijewardena has painted a picture of a child as opposed to a grown man or woman. This attempt made by the artist clearly shows her way of highlighting an alternative narrative about war through the lens of a child. This is a rather interesting move made by the artist as it also highlights her interest in the needs and rights of a child.

I believe in this painting Wijewardena has used her ‘individual memory’ of her childhood to present catastrophic repercussions of war on the life of a child on a war trodden context in Sri Lanka. Jelin (2003) mentions that ‘individual memories are always socially framed. These frameworks bear the general representations of society its needs and values. They also include the worldview and language of a society or a group’. The fact that the child in this painting appears to be sad and blocked by many utensils and objects within the camp clearly shows her entrapped state physically and psychologically. I believe that Wijewardena is using her individual memory of childhood to paint a picture in contrast to that in order to highlight the plight of a child who has been affected by the consequences of war as opposed to a child who has not been affected by war, like her childhood. Moreover, I believe that through this sorrowful depiction of the child, Wijewardena is also presenting the way in which the child is deprived of her right to play as a result of war.

The fact that this child is living in a refugee camp clearly shows the social and economic instability the war creates. Furthermore, the fact that the mat that is depicted in the painting is closed as opposed to being open is also rather interesting. This is because the folded mat indicates that the child is not able to sleep due to fear of possibly either being abducted, raped or being haunted by the memory of traumatic experiences. Henceforth, it is evident that Wijewardena is responding to the war by highlighting the injustices that are faced by children effectively through her works of art. Interestingly, I believe that Jelin’s (2003) following statement is very appropriate in understanding the agenda of Wijewardena in this piece of work. ‘Actors and activists use the past, bringing their understanding and their interpretations about it into the public sphere of debate. Their intention is to establish/convince/transmit their narrative, so that others will accept it’. I feel that this statement is relevant to Wijewardena because she too is transmitting the narrative of this child about the consequences of war to her audience.

Chandragupta Thenuwara’s Art

In order to analyze Thenuwara’s response to the ethnic war, I shall analyze his piece of art titled ‘Barrelism Tourist Map’ at the ‘Visual Responses During the War’ Exhibition that was held at the Lionel Wendt in 2010 and also this exhibition itself as an initiative in highlighting the works of art of contemporary Sri Lankan artists. I chose these particular works due to two reasons. Firstly, ‘Barrelism Tourist Map’ explores the concept of ‘Barrelism’ in a creative and unconventional manner. Secondly, due to the fact that the ‘Barrelism Tourist Map’ and the exhibition are contesting the practices of the state effectively through forms of art.

The Culturebase.net website (2010) mentions that the concept of ‘Barrelism’ was coined by Thenuwara in 1997 in a public declaration at an International Artists Camp in Sri Lanka. Moreover, this website mentions that until then he had chosen to draw the human figure but on his return to Sri Lanka he found the capital drawn into war. Thenuwara mentions that barrels have occupied the space around Sri Lanka so much so that he was inspired to draw ´Barrelscapes´ instead of landscapes.

The ‘Barrelism Tourist Map’ is a Sri Lankan map that does not only point out conventional interests of tourists such as archeological sites, historical places, wildlife, places that promote sports, leisure and nature but also places where there are barrels functioning as barricades. Interestingly, in pointing out the places where barrels exist, Thenuwara manages to conform to the requirements of a tourist map as it highlights ‘spaces of culture’. I would like to term the barrels as ‘spaces of culture’ because ‘barrels’ play a key role in highlighting the forms of culture that is promoted in Sri Lanka. Significantly, right below the Sri Lankan map in ‘The Barrelism Tourist Map’ Thenuwara also showcases a range of barrels in different designs and colors. I chose to interpret this aspect as Thenuwara’s attempt to highlight that barrels do not only highlight only one form of culture but many.

However, I believe that his primary motive in representing barrels as a ‘space of culture’ is to highlight the culture of militarization in Sri Lanka. De Mel (2007) mentions that Cynthia Enloe defines militarization as ‘a step-by-step process by which a person or a thing gradually becomes controlled by the military or comes to depend for its well-being on militaristic ideas’. I believe that Thenuwara’s concept of Barrelism strives to highlight the way in which the military is playing an immense role in controlling the lives of citizens and their movement. The fact that this map has barrels drawn all over the island clearly shows their dominance and rooted presence.

Secondly, I feel that Thenuwara highlights barrels as a ‘space of culture’ as it attempts to highlight the fact that anyone who does not conform to the political agenda of the state are not tolerated. I believe that Thenuwara is attempting to present these barrels as metaphorical presence of ‘barriers’ for those who believe in alternative strategies in resolving the conflict rather than ‘fighting to gain peace’. For example journalists such as Richard De Soyza, Lasantha Wickramatunge and others who were against the ideologies promoted by the state were assassinated due to the immense amount of ‘barrels’ that represent ‘barriers’. This is because they did not conform to the interests of the state. Henceforth, I believe that the barrels highlighted in this tourist map is very significant as they highlight the closed and militaristic culture the state is promoting in Sri Lanka along with the tourist attractions.

It is also interesting to note that Thenuwara highlights this concept of Barrelism in a tourist map due to the following reasons. Firstly, it highlights the way in which Thenuwara camouflages it in a map that is very colorful and vibrant in nature, due to the various colors that are used to categorize tourist attractions. Therefore, by placing colorful barrels in a colorful map he does not draw very special attention to the form of social protests he is making through this work of art. Consequently, this may have been done purposely in order to certainly highlight his alternative perspective of militarization without getting his work concealed in a nation where everything that does not conform to the political agenda of the state is censored. Secondly, it highlights the way in which Thenuwara is drawing attention to the form of culture that is being promoted in Sri Lanka to the international community. I believe that Thenuwara made a conscious effort to place barrels on a tourist map in order to draw the attention of the west which supports freedom of expression, free press and a civil society.

I consider the exhibition ‘Visual Responses During the War’ curated by Thenuwara as a work of art because he brings together works of art by other artists. He brings in the works of experts such as Anoma Wijewardena, Jagath Weerasinghe and Kingsly Gunatileka along with Anura Krishantha, Kusal Gunasekera and Chammika Jayewardene who are establishing their careers as artists in Sri Lanka. The conduction of this exhibition is rather interesting to analyze on many levels because it also highlights Thenuwara’s response to the ethnic war effectively. Firstly, it shows that Thenuwara does not only respond to the ethnic war through his art alone but also through the works of other artists. Consequently, this shows Thenuwara’s attempt in bringing together like minded artists in order to voice out the concerns of artists in a collective manner for purposes of effectivity. The fact that he is highlighting alternative voices to the consequences of war clearly shows that he does not merely want to present his thoughts and perceptions. However, he also wants to create a social and political change in Sri Lanka by stimulating the Sri Lankan public to critically think about the ideologies and practices of the state. In that sense, I feel that Thenuwara is making a very strong case by presenting the existence of alternative voices to the Sri Lankan public.

Nonetheless, it is also interesting to note that although Thenuwara is making a very strong political, it is not presented in a way to attract the masses in Sri Lanka. I believe that it does not attempt to publicize it to the masses due to the following reasons. Firstly, this exhibition was publicized only in English newspapers such as the Sunday Times, Sunday Observer, The Sunday Leader and the Daily Mirror. Advertising an event in English newspapers can only create awareness to a comparatively smaller audience due to the popularity of these newspapers amongst the English speaking community. Secondly, the fact that this exhibition was chosen to take place at Lionel Wendt and the Harold Peiris Gallery clearly denotes a sense of elitism and exclusivity. Therefore, it is evident that the reach of the alternative voice created through these works of art would not have been far.

I believe that Thenuwara had no choice but to present his work in a space of elitism in Colombo 7 and mediums that reach an exclusive audience. This is because if an individuals attempts to challenge the ideologies of the state, his work and his life is at risk in an ‘almost’ autocratic political situation in Sri Lanka,. Consequently, this not only highlights the pathetic situation of the inability of an individual’s right to freedom of expression, but also measures taken by artists to balance out their response to the war and ensuring the probability of getting their work censored.

Wijewardena and Thenuwara’s Roles as Social Activists

Therefore, one can come to the conclusion that Thenuwara is a social activist as much as he is an artist. This is because like a social activist, he too creates awareness about the existence of an alternative voice with regards the political situation in Sri Lanka. As pointed out before, Thenuwara highlights the existence of a culture of militarization and censorship against any form of opinion that does not conform to the agenda of the state through the concept of Barrelism. Moreover, the fact that he brings this out through a Sri Lankan tourist map clearly indicates his motive of gaining the attention of the international community possibly for purposes of intervention. Therefore, we can come to the conclusion that Thenuwara can be considered a social activist not only due to his attempts in challenging social practices, but also in engaging with those who are ‘like minded’ in changing the mindset of people through exhibitions.

Jelin (2003) mentions that each and every decision to build a monument, to set up spaces for memory in places where serious affronts to human dignity were committed, to construct museums and install commemorations is the result of the initiative and the commitment of social advocacy groups. According to this definition, it is evident that Wijewardena too is not only an artist but also a social activist. Her role as a social activist can be argued due to her criticism against ‘Ethnic Nationalism’ that is promoted in Sri Lanka instead of ‘Civic Nationalism’. I believe that Wijewardena can also be called a social activist because she not only condemns practices of state in her works of art, but she also attempts to create awareness about the social and political situation of Sri Lanka abroad through her exhibitions. The fact that she showcases her working with regards to peace and reconciliation will clearly attract the attention of the international community regarding the injustices that take place in Sri Lanka. Therefore, her exhibitions that take place abroad can be considered as a platform where Wijewardena presents the case of Sri Lanka in order to motivate the international community to intervene and pressurize the government into implementing free press, freedom of expression and child rights.

Therefore, it evident that the response of Wijewardena and Thenuwara to the ethnic war is not only emotional and personal, but is also very political. Therefore, we can come to the conclusion that the process of introspection that the war brought to these artists is immense. I believe that the process of introspection was so effective that it transformed their roles from being artists to a social activist due to the form of political change that they present. Moreover, the success of these artists in Sri Lanka is not only due to the way in which they manipulate their art through unconventional forms and postmodern approaches, but also due to their ability to contest practices of the state in a manner that does not qualify as a work that needs to be censored due its controversial nature. I feel this stance taken by both artists is very strategic as it does pave way for the controversial message to be transmitted to the public. Weiss and Camnitzer (1928) mentions that a precise definition of an artist is not important, but the impact that his artistic production presents is what defines a true artist. Therefore, I believe that Wijewardena and Thenuwara are exemplary artists as there works do not only create a great impact to their audience, but also makes them question ideologies and conventions one is imposed with in a critical fashion.

The aim of this thought piece is to unravel the authenticity that I witnessed during the enactment of the play ‘The Gaza Monologues’ produced by ‘Floating Space’ on the 6th of February 2011. In doing so, I shall attempt to highlight the ways in which authenticity is created through the use of space, the informality of the opening scene and the subversion incorporated in the title of the play. The concept of authenticity shall also be discussed in relation to the intent of the play and the collaborations the theatre group has with its stakeholders. I shall also draw upon aspects that Peter Brook conceptualizes in ‘The Empty Space’ in unearthing the characteristics of authenticity and honesty throughout the course of this essay.

‘To (capture the audiences’ attention and compel its belief) we must prove that there will be no trickery, nothing hidden. We must open our empty hands and show that really there is nothing up our sleeves. Only then can we begin’ Brook (1996).

This line partly captures the authenticity, which involves fidelity (Gaut et al, 2001) to the subject matter and the context of the subject matter that I look for when watching a theatrical performance. ‘The Gaza Monologues’ was one such performance that stayed true to the above ‘idea’ of not involving ‘trickery’ as it chose a space that was fidel to the context of the play. This was because the space alone was able to create the sensation of despair, which was one of the dominant themes of the performance. I agree with Brook’s statement that ‘a beautiful place may never bring the explosion of life, while a haphazard hall maybe a tremendous meeting place’ once I watched this production at the relatively large backroom of Park Street Mews. The fact that the walls of this venue were not artificially hidden by wall paint, which is used to symbolize a sense of sophistication and elegance, complimented the atmosphere of doom and misery to a great extent. I felt that the unpainted walls created a sense of fidelity to the actual situation in Palestine because it was able to symbolize destruction, as demolition of buildings are generally indicated through a pile of broken bricks. Therefore, the unpainted, bricked walls of the venue played a momentous role in capturing a consequence of war throughout the venue.

Also, I personally felt that the audience was made to witness the monologues of children affected by war in a surrounding that the children were familiar with. This was due to the ‘unpainted walls’ as mentioned previously, and due to the lack of fixed seats, as at traditional theatres. The fact that this venue had mats and plastic chairs provided an authentic air because it helped create the illusion that the production group, in their attempt to highlight the true conditions of the children, placed mats and chairs for the audience to witness their plight from a space that the victimized children were able to identify with. Indeed, credit must be given to the playwrights for their choice of venue as it implied the context and setting even before the play began. Brooks’ claim that ‘the most vital theatrical experiences occur outside the legitimate places constructed for the purpose’ stands true with my experience of ‘The Gaza Monologues’ at the backroom of Park Street Mews.

Interestingly, the content of the play is also very authentic as the narratives of the children in the play are a documentation of the individual experiences, hopes and fears of the youth in Palestine (Rerun of The Gaza Monologues, 2011). This authenticity within the content of the performance is also portrayed in the representation of it through the absence of a ‘stage’. The fact that the children enacted the narratives of the victims in Palestine on the floor of the backroom as opposed to a ‘stage’ is more effective and authentic, as it eliminated the illusion associated with the stage. I personally feel that the inclusion of a ‘stage’ at a theatrical performance takes away the aspect of authenticity as it keeps me aware that this performance is a construct. Consequently, the lack of a ‘stage’ at the ‘The Gaza Monologues’ worked successfully as it symbolized the veracity of the narratives.

Moreover, the fact that the actors sat very close to the audience on the mat after their enactment of a narrative was also very significant. I personally feel that his close presence with the actors helped the audience understand their feelings because they appeared as children who were victimized as opposed to actors on stage performing a role that was given to them. It is also significant when Eraj Gunawardena, the child who speaks for Reem from Al- Saftawi Street, throws cards at the audiences who are seated on the map and occupy the first few rows for two reasons. Firstly, it highlights his feelings of hopelessness and depression as a result of his loss of childhood due to the war. Secondly, it creates an attachment to the plights of the children as the audience gets the feeling of despair effectively when there is symbolic ‘physical evidence’. Hence these instances clearly make the audience feel that they are witnessing a real event as opposed to a performance.

The discussion of the above characteristics witnessed at the production of ‘The Gaza Monologues’ conforms to Peter Brook’s conception of ‘The Rough Theater’. He mentions that Rough Theatre is ‘the theatre that’s not in a theatre, the theatre on carts, on wagons, on trestles, audiences standing…theatre in backrooms, upstairs rooms, barns…’. These aspects are certainly witnessed in ‘The Gaza Monologues’ along with its ‘close (ness) to the people’ in terms of the subject, which is similar to the consequences of war felt by the children of Sri Lanka, and certainly, by the characteristics mentioned above such as the use of space.

Initially, when I heard the title of the play, I assumed that this play would be a performance depicting important national leaders in official attire at a boardroom. Consequently, I was surprised by what I witnessed due to the clear subversion from my expectations of the play. However, I must admit that this subversion did impart a sense of authenticity to the play because it highlights the importance that we, as the audience and the international community, should place on the marginalized victims of war. The fact that the playwrights chose to voice out the conditions that the Palestine civilians face from children, who symbolize their condition through their torn and tattered clothing, clearly highlights the need to understand problems from those who do not belong to hegemonic power structures as well. Significantly, the choice of using children to inform the audience about the hardships is also effective as it would be easier for the audience to identify with those who have been directly affected by the war, as opposed to leaders who are not directly affected due to their inclusion within an elite circle.

Additionally, the depiction of a setting that symbolized death and decay as opposed to a board room with elegant furnishing and well equipped sound systems was also very successful. The inclusion of barbed wire within the setting was very symbolic of the Palestine context as it effectively highlighted the restrictions and limitations the civilians were forced to abide as a result of the war. A plush boardroom would never have been able to capture these emotional, physical and psychological traumas that the victims of war experience. Brook mentions that it is effective to have a setting that does not consist of too many props. According to him the reason for this efficacy is that a minimalistic setting has the potential to draw the attention of the audience to the character on stage as opposed to the fancy background. Therefore, the minimalistic setting in the performance of ‘The Gaza Monologues’ also paves way in drawing attention to the narratives due to its symbolic background that lacks artificial and expensive props.

I admire and have tremendous regard for the playwrights of this play as they not only chose to stage a performance based on a contemporary social issue, but they also stayed true to their intent of creating awareness of this phenomenon by involving themselves in real life initiatives that promote this issue on a global forum. The fact that ‘Floating Space contributed to ‘The Gaza Mono-Logues’ performance in New York at the General Assembly of the United Nations for its annual meeting on ‘The Question of Palestine’ (Rerun of The Gaza Monologues, 2011) clearly indicates the interest and initiative shown by the playwrights in social activism. Subsequently, the fact that ‘Floating Space believes that the process of children in Colombo working on the text and production – and the subsequent performance with the international cast – was an expression of solidarity with children in similar situations as experienced by children in Sri Lanka (Rerun of The Gaza Monologues, 2011) clearly highlights the playwrights intentions of providing a space and opportunity to the children in Sri Lanka in sympathizing and acknowledging the condition of other children affected by war around the world.

Therefore, I would like to conclude by stating that ‘The Gaza Monologues’ is a performance that needs to be applauded greatly due to its use as a tool for social activism. The fact that the playwrights, as mentioned above, managed to highlight the veracity of the narratives and the social conditions of the victims through the use of space, speeches and the subversion of the title clearly highlights the innovative nature of the playwrights. The innovative nature of this play is also brought out through the lack of a ‘stage’, which in my view symbolically enhanced the performance through its erasure of the illusion associated with a ‘stage’. Henceforth, ‘The Gaza Monologues’ is a play that would be remembered for its authenticity and innovative nature.

This a surreal black comedy animation called Cat Soup. In fact it is an award winning cartoon that was released in the early 90’s . Do watch all three parts and let me know your thoughts and response to this cartoon. Believe me, watching this will be quite an experience regardless of your level of liking towards it!Moreover, in my next post I shall discuss why exactly those of you who did not like it feel so, from an Aristotlean perspective.

Existentialist believe that this is an act of courage, or even an expression of ultimate agency. Gah! I say. I do not think it is so!Even in Albert Camus’ Novel ‘The Stranger’, the lead charactor commits suicide because of the paradoxes and failures in the legal system. So in your face Existentialists!

Lets face it,those who commit suicide do so because they feel that there is no solution to their problems. Which invariably implies that they are not courageous enough to face it. I do understand that suicide stems from social prejudices and the faults of the social system and conventions – However, resorting to suicide does not bring about anything fruitful to the individual. This does not mean that I’m promoting the concept of hell or disregarding the mystery and mystical element to death but all what I am saying is that it does not provide any form of catharsis. Well, yes I do understand that one can argue that catharsis is achieved since escape from the issue is assured by death but I believe it is mere cowardice. COWARDICE AS A RESULT OF BEING PASSIVE.

Moreover, if one accepts the act of suicide one invariably denies the possibility of creating change!well, yes I may sound rather idealistic but I do believe that change is possible if there is determination and powerful thoughts. Once thoughts are formed and made strong through conviction,change in anything is possible. It really is.